Young players from West Calder United 98s were devastated to find their storage container had been ransacked and vital training equipment stolen.

Tyler Huxford and Neil Atkinson of West Calder Utd 98s survey the damaged container after it was broken into

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Callous thieves have targeted a youth football team, swiping over £3000 of equipment.

Young players from West Calder United 98s were devastated to find their storage container had been ransacked and vital training equipment stolen.

The boys and their coaches this week made a public appeal for information to help find the missing equipment and catch whoever stole it.

Coach Kenny Taylor said he discovered the container at the team’s ground at Hermand Park had been broken into on February 14 and items including soccer 7s goals, training equipment and a 10-man tent were missing.

He said the total for everything that had been taken was around £3500.

Kenny said: “I think whoever did this knew what they were looking for because there was a lawnmower in there as well, I would have thought they’d have got more money for that selling it on.

“I think they’ve been at the ground and had a look in the container when we’ve been there. They must have come prepared with a van to drive off because there was quite a bit of stuff taken.

“It’s a massive inconvenience to us and the boys are quite upset. We usually try to spend a bit of money on them and so what we would have used to pay to take them to a tournament in Glasgow and stay the night will now have to be used to buy new equipment.”

Kenny has urged anyone who has information that will help find the missing equipment to get in touch with police.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police in West Calder are investigating after a break-in to a secure building at Hermand Football Park on February 14, when training gear, goal posts and other football items were taken. Anyone with any information should contact police on 101.”